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CLCV Member,  

The Electoral College has officially solidified America’s choice of Joe
Biden as the 46th President-Elect of the United States. While this is
great news for us, we have known for a while that President-Elect Biden
won the popular vote. So, why do we continue to rely on this antiquated
system to solidify the results? 

[ [link removed] ]We think it’s time to abolish the Electoral College.  

The origins of the Electoral College are steeped in racism. Southern
states, who held 93% of the country’s slave population, found themselves
at a major disadvantage within a popular voting system. As a result, the
three-fifths compromise was born, boosting the south’s congressional
delegation by 42%. The increased delegates used the three-fifths
compromise as the foundation for the system we now use in choosing our
president. More than two centuries later, the Electoral College continues
to empower southern white voters while submerging black votes. Even though
black voters make up much of the southern population, their preferred
presidential candidate is almost assured to lose their home states’
electoral votes. 

[ [link removed] ]Learn more on how these structures are working against Black voters.
Democracy and justice require we take on this fight. 

Throughout our election history, five presidential candidates have won the
popular vote, but lost the Electoral College. Two of them have been our
last three presidents! We all remember the 2016 election and watching as
Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by three million and still lost
because of the Electoral College. President-elect Biden won the popular
vote by more than 5 million and won almost the same number of electoral
votes. A record, historic number of Americans voted, in the midst of a
pandemic. A surge of young voters turned out around the country, many for
the first time. If every vote counts, why aren’t we valuing every vote
equally?

It’s time to protect the votes of all Americans. We implore you to join us
in the movement to protect and strengthen our democracy. [ [link removed] ]Add your name:
it’s time to abolish the electoral college.                               
    

In solidarity, 

Shaina Hall

Communications Fellow

California League of Conservation Voters 

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